1. International Research Journal ISSN-0975-3486 VOL. I * ISSUE—3&4 RNI : RAJBIL/2009/30097
Research Paper—Botany & Microbiology
STUDIES ON PHYTOPLANKTON
DIVERSITY OF POLSAYPARA &
DEEPAK NAGAR POND OF DURG
CITY; DISTT. DURG (C.G.)
Dec.-09—Jan.-2010
*G. S. Thakur**Nishant Meshram
***Devendra Kumar
*_**_***Dept. of Botany & Microbiology, Govt. V. Y. T. PG.Autonomous College Durg
ABSTRACT
Phytoplankton are common inhabitants of surface water and pioneer of an aquatic food chain. The
phytoplankton has great significance in the biology of the creek as they provide food for the organisms,
especially for Zooplankton. The present investigation is an attempt to study the phytoplankton
community & physicochemical parameters in two ponds (Polsaypara & Deepak Nagar) of Durg city
area” district Durg. During the study the total number of phytoplankton were counted. Total 28
phytoplankton species were recorded in Polsaypara pond, and 24 phytoplankton species were
recorded in Deepak Nagar pond. The high temperature & pH favors the growth of cyanobacteria &
chlorophyceae group of phytoplankton.
Key word: Physicochemical parameters, ponds, phytoplankton.
Introduction quality. The number of workers such as Saxena (1982);
The Phytoplankton study is a very useful tool for Malhotra (1988) studied the composition and seasonal
the assessment of water quality in any type of water abundance of phytoplankton in Tropical fresh water
and also contributes to an understanding of the basic pond at Aligarh. Many workers have published their
nature and general economy of the pond. Number and work on aquatic environment and ecology of
kinds of phytoplankton grow in surface waters depend phytoplankton in fresh water Khan (1992), Yogesh
on environmental conditions. Sewage and organic Shastry etal. (1999), Dwivedi and Pandey (2002), More
waste water increase the productivity of the waters and Nandon (2003). Water is an important ecological
and their crops of algae and other plankton organisms. factor and universal solvent too. It also maintains many
Phytoplankton being the primary producer from the physiological activities of living organisms. It is most
lowest tropic level in the food chain of fresh water important natural resource and we depend on water
ecosystem and play a key role in fish culture. for irrigation, industry and domestic needs.
According to Gerlach (1975) they produce 360 gm The present study has been undertaken to study
organically bound carbon in a year per square meter. the phytoplankton population and characteristics of
The number and species of phytoplankton serves to water in two ponds of Durg city. Durg generally has a
determine the quality of water body. The structure of dry tropical weather which is moderate but on a warmer
aquatic community is important in monitoring the side in summer season. The peak temperature usually
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2. International Research Journal ISSN-0975-3486 VOL. I * ISSUE—3 &4 RNI : RAJBIL/2009/30097
reached in May / June and can be as high as 45º bottom while the hole was inserted a shorter tube that
centigrade. The onset monsoon usually from July and ended near the mouth. The neck of the bottle was tied
the season extends up to September with monsoon with a nylon thread. The samples were collected by air
peaking during July and August, Durg district (20º 23’ replacement principle. Phytoplankton were collected
- 22º 02’ N latitude, and 80º 46’- 81º 58’ E Longitude) from two ponds (P1 & P2) between 9 to 10 am with the
occupies geographical area of 8701.8 sq KM. and rich help of phytoplankton net, and 25ml of 4%
in mineral resources. formaldehyde was added (Welch 1948) and
Materials and Methods sedimentation was done.
Sampling - Stagnant surface water sample for The sediments were finally reduced to 20 ml by
physico - chemical analysis were collected from two centrifugation and were preserved in glass vial. The
ponds (Polsaypara pond P1 & Deepak Nagar pond P2) identification was done up to generic level as described
during study period (January, February and March by Fritsch (1979) and Desikachary (1959). The water
2009) between 9 to 10 am with the help of sampler temperature, pH, & Dissolved Oxygen (DO) were
designed by us. The sampler was made up of a thick determined at sampling sites while Turbidity, Total
walled glass bottle of one liter capacity. The rubber Solid, Conductivity, Phosphates and Bio - chemical
stopper was having two holes, one inserted with a oxygen demand (BOD) were determined in the
long tube one end of which was almost touching the laboratory. (APHA, 1985 and Trivedi & Goel, 1986).
Table—1 (Polsaypara Pond P1)
PHYSICO - CHEMICAL PARAMETERS JAN FEB MARCH
Temperature (º C ) 20.1 25.0 27.0
pH 9.05 9.38 9.65
Conductivity(µmhos) 0.25 0.26 0.24
Total dissolved solids(mg/l) 70 70 80
Turbidity (NTU) 42.0 48.8 46.5
Phosphate (mg/l) 5.24 5.11 4.17
Dissolved Oxygen(mg/l) 7.28 10.3 8.39
Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (mg/l) 5.7 4.6 4.3
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Serial No. Occurred Phytoplankton Jan Feb March
Group Chlorophyceae
1 Chlamydomonas globosa + + +
2 Gonium compactum Iyenger + - +
3 Pandorina morum (Mull) Bory + - +
4 Pediastrum simplex Meyen + + +
5 Chlorella vulgaris Beijerinck + + +
6 Volvox globater + - -
7 Tetraedron muticum A. (Braun)Hansgirg + + -
8 Oocystis ecballocystiformis Iyanger + - +
9 Scencdesmus armatus G.M.Smith + + +
10 Senedesmus var.bogalariensis G.M.Smith + + +
11 Senedesmus dimorphus (Terpi) kuetz + + +
Group Bacillariophyceae
12 Navicula grimmii Krasske + + +
13 Nitzschia palea(Kutz) W.Sm. + + +
14 Primularia interrupta W.Sm. Forma subcapitata Fritsch + - -
15 Fragilaria pinnata Ehr + + +
16 Cyclotella catenata Brun + + +
17 Melosira granulate (Ehr)Ralfs + - +
18 Coscinodiscus + + +
19 Sysendra rumpens Kutz. - + +
20 Gomphonema lanceolatum Ehr + - -
Group Myxophyceae
21 Arthrospira platensis(Nordst)Gom. + + +
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4. International Research Journal ISSN-0975-3486 VOL. I * ISSUE—3 &4 RNI : RAJBIL/2009/30097
Spirulina labirinthiformis Gom. - + +
23 Phormidium ambiguum Gom. - + -
24 Anabaena utermohlii Geitler - + +
25 Anabaenopsis circularis Wolosz. - + -
Group Euglenophyceae
26 Euglena proxima Dangeard - + +
27 Trachelomona scylindrica Ehr - + +
28 Strombomonas ovalis (Playf) Defl - + +
Table-4 Deepak Nagar Pond T2
S No. Occurred Phytoplankton Jan Feb March
Group Chlorophyceae
1 Chlamydomonas globosa + + +
2 Gonium compactum Iyenger + + +
3 Pandorina morum (Mull) Bory + + +
4 Pediastrum simplex Meyen + + +
5 Chlorella vulgaris Beijerinck + - +
6 Volvox globater - - +
7 Tetraedron muticum A. (Braun)Hansgirg + + +
8 Closterium cynthica De.Not.Var.jenneri Kriger + + +
9 Scenedesmus armatus G.M.Smith + + +
Group Bacillariophyceae
10 Nitzschia palea(Kutz) W.Sm + + -
11 Primularia interrupta W.Sm. Forma subcapitata Fritsch - + +
12 Fragilaria pinnata Ehr + + +
14 Cyclotella catenata Brun + + +
15 Melosira granulate (Ehr)Ralfs + - +
16 Coscinodiscus + + +
Group Myxophyceae
17 Spirulina labirinthiformis Gom. + + +
18 Arthospira platensis(Nordst)Gom. + + -
19 Phormidium ambiguum Gom. + + -
20 Anabaena utermohlii Geitler + + +
21 Anabaenopsis circularis Wolosz. + + -
Group Euglenophuceae
22 Phacus cylindraceus Popova + + +
23 Euglena caudate Huebner + + -
24 Trachelomonas cylindrical Ehr. + + +
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Images taken by Phase-Contrast Microscope for identification
Result & Discussion temperature and pH, whereas, Mary Bai (1989) reported
Physico - chemical parameter that the pH of polluted water fluctuates in the range of
The result of Physico - chemical parameters and 8 to 9. The pH value of P1 was near about same the
the phytoplankton study of the surface water of two result of Mary Bai. The alkaline pH and reduced water
ponds are presented in tables 1, 2, 3 & 4 for level supports the dominance of cyanobacterial species
convenience of discussion. The ponds were due to increased photosynthesis activity.
represented by P1 (Polsaypara pond) and P2 (Deepak Conductivity of P1 range from 0.88 to1.22 µmhos
Nagar pond). Water temperature of P1 were recorded and P2 range from 0.24 to 0.26 µmhos were recorded;
ranging from 20.1ºC to 23.1ºC during study period higher value in P2 than P1. Turbidity (NTU) & Total
(Table -1); whereas the temperature of P2 (table 2) were Dissolved Solid value was higher in P1 than P2. The
recorded ranging from 20.3ºC to 27.2ºC (Table -2). high content of total dissolved solids elevates the
Comparatively higher temperature of P2 was due to density of water and such a medium increases
the protected by all sides. This high range of osmoregulatory stress on aquatic biota (Verma et al
temperature favors the grow of phytoplankton life. 1978). The value of phosphates ranged between 4.17
The pH value of P1 range from 8.63 to 9.25. It was to 5.24mg/l in P2 and 5.44 to 6.35mg/l in P1. It was
minimum (8.63) in the month of January and maximum higher value than P2. The higher phosphate value of
(9.25) during March 2009. Whereas pH of P2 range P1 could possibly be due to sewage pollution and
from 9.05 to 9.65. It was minimum (9.05) in month of human interfere by washing clothes and bathing.
January and maximum (9.65) in March. Singhai (1986) Dissolved oxygen in P1 was ranged from 3.3 to 4.2 mg/
has obtained a direct relationship between water l whereas in P2 was ranged from 7.28 to 10.31mg/l. It
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6. International Research Journal ISSN-0975-3486 VOL. I * ISSUE—3 &4 RNI : RAJBIL/2009/30097
was high in P2. The dissolved oxygen almost all plants species Chlamydomonas, Pediastrum, Closterium,
and animals need for respiration. Low dissolved Scenedesmus with maximum while Gonium, Pandorina,
oxygen creates favorable condition for phytoplankton Tetraedron with minimum occurrence. Chlorella,
growth. Biological Oxygen Demand value was recorded Volvox, Oocystis and Ankistrodesmus species were
range from 30.4 to 37.4 mg/l in P1 and in P2 it was range recorded occasionally. Among Diatoms Navicula,
from 4.3 to 5.7mg/l. This value indicated that the Nitgschila, Fragilaria, Cyndrella, Syrendra,
Polsaypara pond (P1) is more polluted than the Deepak Melosira,Gomphonella & Cyclotella species showed
Nagar pond (P2).The change in physicochemical maximum density. Among Cyanobactera population,
parameters also influence water bodies as it is observed five species namely Arthospira, spirulina were
in the present study. recorded maximum density while Phormidium,
Phytoplankton composition anabaena anabaenopsis with less frequency and
At pond P1 the total number of 26 species of density. Group Euglenophyceae was represented by
phytoplankton consisting of 9 species of Euglena and Tracholemons with maximum occurrence.
Chlorophyceae, 9 species of Bacillariophyceae, 5 Deepak Nagar Pond: - Group Chlorophyceae
species of Myxophyceae and 2 species of included species Chlamydomonas, Pediastrum,
Euglenophyceae were identified (Table no. 1). At pond Closterium, Scenedesmus, Pandorina with maximum
P2 the total number of 24 species comprising of 6 while Gonium, Tetraedron, Chlorella, Volvox Oocystis
species of diatoms, 9 species of Chlorophyceae 5 species were recorded with minimum occurrence.
species of Myxophyceae and 3 species of Among diatoms Navicula, Nitzschia & Fragilaria
Eulenophyceae and were recorded. At pond P2 species showed maximum density. Among
Diatoms were dominated species. Phytoplankton cyanobacterial population Spirulina, & Arthospira
population among diatoms such as Cyclotella, were found with maximum density followed by
Melosira & Coscinodiscus were found as most Phormidum, Anabaena and Anabaenopsis. Group
dominated species. Euglenoidae was represented by Phacus, Euglena and
Polsaypara pond: - Group Chlorophyceae included Trachetomonas species.
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